Lois Elaine Klezmer

Lois Elaine Klezmer, 82, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, passed away Sunday June 4 at her home after a heroic battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Lois received her master’s degree from Indiana University and she married Michael Klezmer (1962). They moved to Miami, where Lois began a professorship in early childhood education at Miami Dade Community College that would span nearly four decades (1972-2005). With Sima Lesser, she ran the teacher certification program for the state of Florida. As a teacher of teachers, Lois was passionately dedicated to making the world a better place for children. She touched countless lives, providing mentorship to generations of students.

Upon retirement as Professor Emerita, Lois moved with Michael to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she quickly became known for her community service, always warm smile, kindness and generosity. She worked to help families involved in custody disputes establish safe spaces for visitation with their children, and she was very active with Friendship Bridge, whose goals are to empower women and eliminate poverty. Lois had an uncanny ability to put people at ease and it only took sharing a few words with her to know she was someone you would want to call friend. She was a devoted wife to Michael for nearly 61 years, and she loved spending time with daughter Deborah and Deborah’s wife Ann, always referring to them as “her two daughters.” 

Lois was preceded in death by her parents Hermann and Rae Wygoda, sister Sylvia Wygoda, and grandparents Sam and Esther Raider and Maier and Channa Wygoda.

Survivors include husband Michael Klezmer, daughter Deborah (Ann Reuland) Klezmer, brother Mark (Linda) Wygoda, niece Jennifer (Kevin) Israel and nephew Daniel Wygoda.
A Celebration of Life for Lois will be held on August 5 in Santa Fe. Please check back on this page for details as the date approaches. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friendship Bridge.